Lighting fixture



Nov. 7, 1944, P. J. PARLATQ 2,362,091

LIGHTING FIXTURE Original Filed Oct. 10, 1941 INVENTOR. Pr/er f. farh/o71%017, livwmvfiwmbmiz Patented Nov. 7, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Y 2,362,091 i a LIGHTING FIXTURE Peter J. Parlato, Harrington ParkN.J. Substituted forabandoned application Serial No.

414,438, October 10, 1941.

This application 3 Claims.

"The present invention relates to electric light fixtures and, moreparticularly, to electric light fixtures .of the type which employsfluorescent lighting tubes; and the present application is a substitutefor my prior application Serial No. 414,438, filed October 10, 1941.

A general object of the present invention is to .provide a device of,the character described,

-lly accessible for repair from below without necessitating removal ofany top covers or lowering ofthe'fixtures to permit access to space orchambers opened from above; and the provision of such a fixture in whichan elongated or longitudinally extending, channel-shaped, frame element,which may be of relatively light-weight and simple construction, acts asa protective. container or way for the electrically conductive means orconductors leading to and/or from the ballast means.

Another object of the invention is to provide afiuorescent-tube fixturehaving the tube supports carried by and their immediate electricalconnection enclosed in hollow end housings securedto or supported fromsuch an elongated frame element, and in which associated electricalmeans may be at least partially isolated by a guard or reflector elementwhich, if desired, may beformed from electrically non-conductivemateriaLand/or to provide such a guard or reflector element which issupported on, and readily removable from, such housings.

-A-further object of t e present invention is the provision of such alight fixture which is characterized by a pair of spaced-apart hollowend 'elementseach having an enclosed chamber thereiman elongatedchannel-shaped frame element extending between and secured to the endelements, electrically conductive means substantially enclosed inandsupported by the frame element and extending into the chambers in theend elements, at least one pair of electric-lightsocket supports one ofwhich is anchored in each ofvtheend elements andextends through a wallthereof, a pair of electric-lightsockets supported by the socketsupports exteriorly of the end elements, an electric-light tubeextending between and supported by th sockets with the latter beingconnected to the electrically conductive means in -the chambers throughthe socket sup- .portsand ,a reflectorof sheet material supporteddirectly upon and ,solely by .the'end elements while being positionedbetween the frame element and the tube.

Other objectsoi theinvention will in part be obvious and will .inpartappear hereinafter.-

,The invention accordingly comprises the .features of construction,combination of elements and arrangement .of parts, which will .beexemplified in the construction hereinafter set forthand the scope ofthe invention will be indicated in theclaims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the inventionreference should be had to the following detailed description .taken inconnection with the accompanyin drawing, in which:

Fig. ,1 is aperspective view of one embodiment of the ,presentinvention;

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view ofportions of the frame elementand an endelement, tObe fastened together for'support ,of one fromtheothenshown in Fig.1; and

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of the end element shown in Fig. 2, asviewed from the other side thereof.

In the drawing, in which like numerals identify like parts throughout,ill-l0 denotes a plurality of fluorescent light tubes. The two ends ofeach tube 10 are held in a known manner respectively by sockets mountedon supports II, I! through the interior of which electrical connectingmeans extend to the sockets. Each of the supports ll--'|l which supportthe adjacent ends of the tubes"l0l0 may be made integral with each otherin any desired fashion (not shown).

, A frame element l2, preferably channel-shaped as shown,extendsparallel to-the tubes Ill-l0 and in the, preferred embodiment isan elongated element, asshown. -'Sincethe'tubes |0-Ill areelongatedelements extending substantially in the same direction whichconstitutes a principal direction of the device and in the preferredembodiment shown in the drawing the long dimension thereof, the frameelement -l2 is herein termed a longitudinally" extending element,although it may not of necessity have the longest dimension ofthedevice. The frame element I2 is shownin Fig. Zas-being ahollowparallelepiped or channel-shaped membenpreferably having anelongatedopening or slot "l3 in its inner or bottomside extendinglengthwise thereof, Attached to the frame element I2 is a casing H, inwhich are mounted the various electric means at present used inconnection with the fluorescent light tubes,'such as ballast means. Thecasing I4 may be a separate unit attached to frame element I2, or it maybe an enlarged portion of that element. Main electrical connection leadsI5, I5 are brought to the frame element I2 at any convenient pointsthereof. Electrical wiringor conductors are carried from the casing I4by frame element I2 in each direction toward the ends of the device,where they are eventually attached to the conductors in the supports II--I I. If there is a slot I3 present, it may be covered, if desired,with a removable strip I30 of electrically-nonconductive material in theassemblage of the device. It should be noted that the frame element I2which carries the electric means does not have a removable cover but hasa permanently closed top side, and the interior thereof is not reachedfrom above but is accessible from the bottom side thereof. Since theframe element I2, which may or may not include the casing I4, may beentirely enclosed and may be formed of a single piece of material, thereis no requirement from the point of View of insulation that there be anyguarding element but, with devices not made in accordance with thepresent invention, which are equipped with horizontally disposedfluorescentlight tubes, underwriters have required heretofore that aprotective element be provided beneath the wiring and the electriccontrol means or ballast means to safeguard those beneath the lights.The frame element I2 is made of a rigid material such as steel or it maybe made of a rigid electrically-nonconductive material.

Each end of the frame element I 2 is secured to or supports a hollow endelement I6 having a chamber therein. The frame element I2 eithersupports the end elements I6, I6 or they support it. The end elementsI6, I6 may have a variety of shapes. They are made ofelectrically-nonconnection with one of the fluorescent-light tubes. Onlyone of the hollow end elements I6 need be provided with such openings2323 for such switch devices.

The semi-circular end-wall or disc I8 of eac end element I6 is shaped toprovide a ledge 24 on the exterior face of the end element which facestoward the other end element. The ledge 24 may be of any convenientshape. It may be, for example, V-shaped. However, the ledge 24 ispreferably semi-circular; or, if the entire housing is slightly lessthan semi-circular, the ledge is also, but in either case with itssurface lying substantially along a circular arc.

The cup-shaped element I! and the cover plate 22, together forming thehollow end element, are preferably ,detachably connected together and tothe frame element I2, and in any convenient fashion. As shown, the crossflange may have a depression or channel 25 formed centrally thereof,adapted to receive therein the frame element I2, and provided with athreaded opening 26 adapted to register with an opening 21 in one end ofthe frame element I2 whereby frame element I2 and the cup-shaped elementIl may be secured together by a screw. The frame element I2 at both ofits ends, may be provided with other openings 28, 28 preferablyinternally threadedf into which may be threaded screws 29, 29 toseconductive material and preferably of glass. Any

glass-like material or plastic of suflicient rigidity may be used. Asshown, each end element I6 is preferably made in two parts, whichtogether form a semi-cylindrical, hollow casing having a chambertherein, with that portion of the periphery which faces outward anddownward being semi-circular in cross section.

' In the preferred embodiment, one of the parts of the housing or endelement I6 preferably is in the form of a cup-shaped element I'Icomprising a semi-circular end-wall or disc I8, a semicircular flange I9and a flange 20 extending between the ends of the flange I9 Thiscup-shaped element or part Il may be pressed or molded so as to be asingle piece of glass or other selected material. Notches 2 I2I arepreferably provided along the outer edge of flange I9. The other part ofthe hollow end element I6 preferably comprises a cover plate 22,preferably of the same material as part I'I. Plate 22 may, if desired,extend radially beyond socket supports IIII and may have an outerperiphery which differs in shape from the flange I9.

With plate 22 in position notches 2I-2I provide openings through a wallof the end element I6 which are adapted to permit the supports IIII(which may be connected together centrally) to extend out therethrough.Openings 2323 may be formed in flange I9 adjacent respectively to eachof the notches 2 I 2| as shown. These openings 23--23 may be provided topermit switch devices to extend outtherethrough. Each such switch devicemay be provided for use in cure one end of an angle iron 30 thereto. Theother end of angle iron 30 is secured to the closure plate 22, such asby screws 3 I-3 I.

One or more guard or reflector elements are adapted to be fitted betweenthe end elements I6, I6 and supported on the ledges 24, 24. Suchelements, as curved reflector 32, may be withdrawn from the device bysliding or rotating them along the ledges 24, 24 without otherwisetaking the device apart. The element 32, which may be a sector of acylinder as shown, may be termed a guard, although it is not required assuch, and one of its main functions is to act as a reflector for thelight from the tubes I0- I0. Element 32 is preferably formed fromelectrically-nonconductive material, for example glass, and may becoated with any desired material in order that it may be more decorativeand/or in order that it may reflect more light. As shown, this guard orreflector element 32 is adapted to be positioned between the frameelement I2 and the tubes !0I0, beneath the frame element I2 and casingI4.

The device described above is simply assembled The hollow end elementsI6, I6 are attached to the elongated or longitudinally extending frameelement I2. The ceramic elements, each with socket supports IIII arepositioned respectively in the two end elements I6, I6. Various wiresand wiring or electrical conductors, brought or led through frameelement I2, may pass down into the chambers in the hollow end elementsI6, I6 through an opening 33 in each of the latter. The wiring and otherelectrical parts are packed into the hollow end elements I6, I6, whichare then closed to form containers by putting the cover plates 22, 22 inposition and securing the parts together by the angle irons 30-30. Theguard or reflector 32 is then slipped or rotated into position along theledges 24, 24,

- wiring or connections.

opening in the end-wall or disc [8 and may be positioned beneath thecross flange 20.

It will be evident from the foregoing description that the light fixturedescribed above is constructed in such a fashion that it may be readilyserviced from below without being taken down. The casing l4, preferablyof plastic material, and the conductors in frame element 12 areaccessible from below upon the removal of the decorative guard 32, and,when employed, the beforementioned removable strips covering portions ofslot I 3. There is no necessity for an upper cover, and there is nonecessity for a worker to climb up over the top of frame element l2, orthe entire unit, or to demount the latter, in order to take care of theballast means and electrical Practically all danger of short-circuitingthe end elements l6, I6 of the device, where various wires have to beled to the various supports ll-H and where those supports have, in manycases, exposed metallic terminals or ends, is eliminated. Even if theinsulation on the wires should by chance become worn, there is nopossibility of those wires in end containers shorting through thematerial of containers themselves, when, as preferred, the end elementsl6, [6 are made from glass or some other electrically-nonconductivematerial. Electric light fixtures of the general type discussed here attimes need care, such as substitution of tubes, etc., and it isdesirable that danger from short cireuiting in or contact of bareconductors with the end elements, which support those tubes and carrythe Wiring to them and to their separate switches when used, should beeliminated, as is accomplished by the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction anddifferent embodiments of the invention could be made without departingfrom the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in theabove description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. In a lighting fixture the combination comprising a pair ofspaced-apart hollow end elements each having an enclosed chambertherein, reflector supporting ledges on said end elements, an elongatedchannel-shaped frame element extending between and secured to said endelements, said frame element having the channel therein permanentlyclosed on the top side thereof and a longitudinally extending slot inthe bottom side, removable plate means closing the slot, a ballastcarrying casing mounted beneath said frame element and supportedthereby, electrical conductors enclosed in said frame element by saidplate means and extending from said ballast carrying easing into thechambers in said end elements,

at least one pair of electric-light socket supports with one thereofanchored in each of said end elements and extending through a wallthereof,

-a pair of electric-light sockets with one thereof mounted on one ofsaid socket supports and the other mounted on the other socket supportexteriorly of said end elements for support therebetween of anelectric-light tube below said frame element, said sockets beingconnected to said electrical conductors in the chambers through saidsocket supports, and a transversely curved reflector of sheet materialremovably supported directly upon and solely by said ledges beneath saidframe element and said casing and between said frame element and a lineextending through said sockets.

, 2. In a lighting fixture the combination comprising a longitudinalframe element, electricallynonconductive end elements fastened to saidframe element, said end elements having supporting ledges surfaces ofwhich lie along substantially circular arcs, electrically conductivemeans substantially enclosed in and supported by said frame element,electric-light-tube supports supported by said end elements, anelectric-light tube extending between said end elements and supported bysaid supports, and a removable electrically-nonconductive guardtransversely curved substantially along a circular are positionedbetween said electric-light tube and said frame element beneath thelatter and rotatively supported on said ledges for rotative removaltherefrom.

3. In a lighting fixture the combination comprising a longitudinal frameelement adapted for supporting and enclosing electrical elements,semi-cylindrical hollow end elements of electrically-nonconductingmaterial supported by and at the ends of said frame element, at leastone pair of electric-light-socket supports with one anchored in each ofsaid end elements and extending through awall thereof, a pair ofelectriclight sockets with one mounted on one of said socket supportsand the other mounted on the other socket support exteriorly of said endelements for support therebetween of any electriclight tube,electrically conductive means substantially enclosed in and supported bysaid frame element and extending into said hollow end elements to saidsocket supports, each of said end elements having on the side thereoffacing toward the other end element a ledge located between the end ofsaid frame element and said socket mounted thereto with the surface ofsaid ledge lying along a substantially circular arc, and a removableelement of electrically-nonconductive sheet material transversely curvedsubstantially along a circular are having the curved edges thereofrotatively supported on said ledges for rotative removal therefrom.

PETER J. PARLATO.

